Archive for March, 2017

When it comes to dashboards there is precious little space to add extra that might not have been included in your cars loadout. It would then make sense to add anything that was missing and keep the footprint as small as possible. A dedicated GPS is handy for most, however, the rise of the dashcam is a sensible and useful addition to all driver’s in-car tech. Combining them together is also a great saving when it comes to space. The Mio MiVue is another option that takes both and rams them together with a 6.2” Transmissive LCD with touch panel to enjoy it all on. The screen sits at 800 x 480 pixels however the video recorded manages to both 1080p at 30fps and 1296p at 30fps. Interestingly the system is built around Windows CE 6.0.

Think a Powerbank may have put the kibosh on my iPhones battery. It’s draining super quick now. Can literally see the % falling as I’m using it. Any apps that connect to the net just wipes out the battery at the min. I’ve done 2 full cycles to restore battery levels. Going to take a few more to get it back to normal. My wife had other with the battery on her iPhone 6 because she was using the iPad charger. Took a week or so of cycling the battery fully. That’s why I’m always wary of quick charge stuff. Smart charging isn’t that smart!

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What can £75 get you in the way of compact mechanical gaming keyboards? Quite a handsome keyboard it would appear. Here we take a look at the Speedlink ULTOR Illuminated Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with LED Illumination, Anti-ghosting, macro editor, freely configurable, internal memory.

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Powerbanks are increasingly becoming a must-have accessory over the last few years and manufacturers are going to extra lengths the make their just that little bit more attractive to the rest. Be it, adding a flashlight, waterproofing, huge capacity or artwork. However, one company looks to be adding a particularly attractive feature, size.

As capacities increase we see batteries getting bigger and more cumbersome, requiring a bag to carry them. The Dubleup aims to be the backup battery that you can take with you at all times and whilst it’s not going to have your phone back to 100%, it will get you out of a spot.

Designed to fit in your wallet or purse the Dubleup has most of the same proportions of a credit card. Save for girth, there is a battery in there so it has to have some girth. And whilst it might be as bloated as three credit cards piled on top of one another, that’s not exactly wide. Especially when you consider there needs to be a connector to charge the unit and a button to activate it.

One the one side the charger has an attractive metallic look, available in three colours. Black, silver and pink. This is a tough and somewhat scratch resistant surface. A subtle logo is in place on the top left and there is a connector on the top right, more about this later.

The understand is a little less elegant, however, this is the where all the action is. On the left is the charge cable and this is the Dubleup’s most commendable feature, the cable for your device is built right in, no need to carry one with you. A power button and some LEDs sit next to this and at the far right are some markings for capacity and output.

There is little on the sides save for the input charge port.

The one this that most will probably take issue with is that the capacity is 1280 mAh and this is lower than most phone batteries. Additionally, the output is 1A so no fast charging will take place here. Expecting your phone to be 100% after a 30-minute charge on the Dubleup is missing the point. This is designed to be in your wallet or purse to top up when battery life is grim. Perhaps when at a party on down in the bar with friends, somewhere that you don’t want to take a bulky powerbank with you and perhaps didn’t have the ability to charge your device over the course of the day, not everyone can.

Slow to charge, and from 0% to around 38% the Dubleup was dead when I unplugged it from my phone 90 minutes after starting. Just enough of an injection of power to see me home. I was able to put the Dubleup back in my wallet and motor on for a few hours before going home. A bit of a life saver in the right hands.

The Dubleup is a godsend, and not just for its slight footprint. The addition of the inbuilt charge cable is the icing on the cake and whilst options only cover MicroUSB and Apple Lightning connections this is an excellent addition to anyone’s wallet, purse or phone case! Hopefully, USB Type-C will be on the cards for the future.

As a Kickstarter project, you can register your interest now on Dubleup.com and check out the Kickstarter page HERE.

An Early Bird Offer is currently available. Get your Dubleup for just 60 AUD (around £36) or bag 2 for 100 AUD (around £60). Prices will include shipping.

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I love practical gadgets, things that can not only really make life easier, but actually get you out of a bind when the poop hits the fan. The way modern life is for most of us, your mobile device is never far away, often, never out of your hand. Manufacturers have spent billions investing in battery tech to provide enough power to enable your device to withstand heavy or prolonged use, but there are times when it’s just not enough.

There are many portable power packs available as a solution to this problem and both manufacturers and users are starting to figure out just how essential these devices are – for emergencies as well as daily use. This means that we are seeing increasingly inventive and innovative tweaks, refinements and improvements in them.

The model I have been looking at recently is the EasyAcc 13,000mah power bank. A fairly standard looking device that houses a couple of neat little features.

Honestly, first impressions aren’t great. The unit comes in a very plain cardboard box and while it isn’t unattractive with its grey and orange colour scheme it feels rather plasticky. It doesn’t feel flimsy, but it does feel a little…….cheap. I have noticed from using it, the plastic does mar and scratch quite easily. The pack itself is a decent size and I personally think it strikes a good balance of capacity, physical size and weight – your mileage my vary. All pretty standard so far.

However, under the device are two micro USB cables and that’s where things start to get interesting.

Two output ports is nothing new, but the party piece of this little device is the dual input ports. You can plug in two micro USB cables to the two ports and charge the device in half the time. This is genius! EasyAcc claim that a full recharge can take as little as 3.5 hours and in my testing, this seems pretty accurate. This is a fantastic feature for travellers who are maybe camped out in an airport for a few hours, or even if you are just topping the battery up at home and don’t have the time that it would take to charge a regular pack of this size.

The output proved pretty good too. The EasyAcc charged my iPhone 7 from 20% to full in a little over 80 minutes thanks to its smart charge function.

It has, of course, the now obligatory little LED light, which are generally pretty useless, but in this case, they have put a reasonable sized parabolic lens over the LED to amplify the output and provide a bit more of a useful amount of light. Nice touch!

I have been really rather impressed by this charger. Yes, it feels a bit cheap, but it still manages to feel solid. EasyAcc have chosen to forgo the flashy materials, packaging and little carry pouches in favour of functionality. The inclusion of the two charging cables is a real bonus too. For £18.99, this is an easy recommendation.

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Audeara, the world’s first full fidelity headphones with an in built hearing test to protect users ears, delivering a supreme, catered sound like no other headphone, is currently live on Kickstarter. An instant hit, it reached its funding target within the first 15 hours and has now more than doubled its original target!

Everyone has a degree of hearing loss. Not just as a result of every loud gig they’ve been to, every busy street they’ve walked down, or every police siren that’s ever gone past but also damage can be sustained purely by listening to their headphones too loud. More and more young people have some loss of hearing, an increasing number with the same hearing health aged 30 that people would usually associate with a 60 year old.

Audeara headphones can be used to test and retest hearing over a lifetime and adapt music to the users’ individual needs. They make music better, not louder, and provide perfect sound, always. The first time the headphones are worn, the user undertakes a hearing test – the results of which, are subsequently stored in the headphones themselves. The headphones use this hearing profile to adjust the sound signal as it passes through them. They adjust the right ear differently from the left, making sure each part of the signal reaches the user’s brain in a way that’s heard as a perfect reflection of the intended signal.

What makes the Audeara headphones especially powerful is that all the technology is inside the headphones themselves. After the first test, the app isn’t required again unless the user wants to retest. This means headphones are no longer passive magnets for signal conversion, instead, they’re sophisticated tools for personalised sound reproduction.

The Technology

Audeara headphones use a software interface from a smartphone application to send Bluetooth commands to the on-board printed circuit board (PCB). This allows the headphones themselves to generate the tones and maintains consistency across all Bluetooth devices.

The headphones are calibrated and the profile is used as the baseline for accurate audiogram testing. After the user performs the audiogram, a modulation table is applied. This adjusts all incoming musical signals to the user’s requirements. Using an attenuation model, rather than increasing gain, ensures maximisation of the overall signal intensity, without distortion.

With the modulation table stored in the on-board PCB, the user only has to test once for the headphones to apply that table to any Bluetooth signal source. The user can, however, test multiple times, and the software application stores numerous profiles that are then uploaded and stored as the active profile.

The result of the audiogram is displayed for the user, perfect for long-term tracking of any hearing loss, and also as an educational tool in preventing long-term hearing impairment. If the user’s hearing profile shows significant impairment an alert will be shown, which suggests they seek more specialist advice and analysis.

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GEAR4, the UK’s number one trusted impact protection case brand, has today announced that the Piccadilly and Oxford cases from its hugely successful range featuring D3O® technology, will now be available for the Samsung A5.

Samsung A5 owners will no longer miss out on the opportunity to wrap their treasured device in the most advanced shock absorbing technology for enhanced impact protection. Featuring the same D3O® technology that is trusted worldwide in U.S military combat uniforms, American football helmets and protective gear worn by pro athletes (including Usain Bolt), the stylish Piccadilly and Oxford cases boast unrivalled protection.

The Oxford and Piccadilly cases linked to GEAR4’s British roots, combining modern forms and materials to deliver the ultimate combination of sleek protection.

The Piccadilly

The Piccadilly case is the perfect choice if you desire protection but want your phone to remain as close to the original look as possible. Offering the world’s first Metallic INJECTABLE D3O® technology, delivering more impact protection per cubic millimetre than other leading materials hese ultra-slim, ultra-modern, ultra-protective cases can make an impact and still blend with contemporary life.

Piccadilly is scratch-protected with UV coating and offers easy access to all ports. Available in Black

RRP £29.99

The Oxford Bookcase

GEAR4’s multi-tasker, the Oxford mobile wallet features slots for credit cards and also a convenient stand for viewing videos in landscape. It’s unique clip closure design keeps your valuables safe. Function doesn’t compromise form on the Oxford, as it features the same D3O® smart material that offers the highest performance impact protection.

The molecules in D3O® materials in their raw state flow freely when moved slowly, but on shock, lock together to absorb and disperse energy, before instantly returning to their flexible state. This reaction is counter intuitive. The greater the force of the impact, the more the molecules lock together and the greater the protection meaning your device stays safe when dropped.

The GEAR4 Oxford and Piccadilly cases from Carphone Warehouse and www.gear4.com

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MiTAC today announces the Mio MiVue Drive series, a range of in-vehicle devices designed to seamlessly integrate car navigation with quality dash cam recording, all in one solution. Acting as a driver’s personal eyewitness on the road while also using leading navigation features to help navigate from A to B, the new MiVue range is Mio’s most advanced set of in-vehicle devices yet.

A new standard in the world of car navigation and dash cams

The new range caters for the needs of every driver and budget. The Mio MiVue Drive 65 LM, 60 LM, 55 LM, 50 LM and 65 LM Truck are equipped with Extreme HD (1296p), or Full HD (1080p) video recording as a minimum, and an advanced glass lens which lets more light in – the F1.8 aperture and 140° wide angle view, results in brighter, clearer footage in any conditions. These features combine with Mio’s leading car navigation software, with Lifetime Safety Camera and Map Updates, to create one of the most intelligent devices on the road.

The devices also feature Mio’s innovative Advanced Driver Awareness Systems (ADAS) for safety and to support better driving. ADAS includes a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS), giving drivers a signal if they drift out of their lane, or if they are driving too close to the car in front. These features use the superior video quality to play a crucial role in helping a driver to constantly be aware of everything around the vehicle.

“With the MiVue Drive series we are combining our pioneering knowledge in digital video recording, car navigation and advanced safety features to offer a truly integrated solution,” said Harold Cobben, EU Sales Director, Mitac Europe. “We are enabling our customers to have access to superior quality and features for added peace of mind while driving. The Mio MiVue Drive range is our most advanced set of in-vehicle devices yet and we are proud to launch such a powerful set of features, packed into just one device on a windscreen, to help drivers navigate the roads with confidence.”

In addition to navigation, built-in GPS also provides information about positioning and speed for both live feed and all recorded videos. Every device comes with a 16GB SD card included.

Recommended Selling Price and availabilityThe Mio Mivue Drive 65 LM, 60 LM, 55 LM, 50 LM and 65 LM Truck are available today in retail and online, as well as at the Mio e-shop at mio.com.

MiVue Drive 65 LM £279.99

Car navigation with 1296p Extreme HD recording at 30 fps – with the latest H.264 technology for high quality videos at a smaller file size

F1.8 lens – this results in brighter and clearer videos, even in low light conditions

Wide viewing angle – 140° wide-angle lens

Extra large screen – 6.2 inch screen

Lifetime Map Updates and Lifetime Safety Camera Updates

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) – Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) gives a signal if you drift out of your lane and Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) gives a signal if you are too close to the car in front of you of you

Car navigation with 1080p Full HD recording at 30 fps – with the latest H.264 technology for high quality videos at a smaller file size

F2.0 lens – this results in brighter and clearer videos, even in low light conditions

Wide viewing angle – 130° wide-angle lens

Extra large screen – 6.2 inch screen

Lifetime Map Updates and Lifetime Safety Camera Updates

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) – Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) gives a signal if you drift out of your lane and Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) gives a signal if you are too close to the car in front of you of you

Car navigation with 1296p Extreme HD recording at 30 fps – with the latest H.264 technology for high quality videos at a smaller file size

F1.8 lens – this results in brighter and clearer videos, even in low light conditions

Wide viewing angle – 140° wide-angle lens

Lifetime Map Updates and Lifetime Safety Camera Updates

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) – Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) gives a signal if you drift out of your lane and Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) gives a signal if you are too close to the car in front of you of you

Car navigation with 1080p Full HD recording at 30 fps – with the latest H.264 technology for high quality videos at a smaller file size

F2.0 lens – this results in brighter and clearer videos, even in low light conditions

Wide viewing angle – 130° wide-angle lens

Lifetime Map Updates and Lifetime Safety Camera Updates

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) – Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) gives a signal if you drift out of your lane and Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) gives a signal if you are too close to the car in front of you of you

Car navigation with 1296p Extreme HD recording at 30 fps – with the latest H.264 technology for high quality videos at a smaller file size

F1.8 lens – this results in brighter and clearer videos, even in low light conditions

Wide viewing angle – 140° wide-angle lens

Extra large screen – 6.2 inch screen

Truck mode – optimised for large vehicles such as trucks or caravans. Routes are calculated based on vehicle type, weight, dimensions and load

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) – Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) gives a signal if you drift out of your lane and Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) gives a signal if you are too close to the car in front of you of you